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While many businesses strategized innovative working conditions
a fabric of individuals who sustained the needs of our country
and had to report to work. Despite childcare facilities falling
childcare providers placed Closed Signs in their windows by
it left essential workers pondering the same question: Who will
“What I was super nervous about was that Happy Cubs would
have to close because a lot of daycare centers had to close,”
not imagine working and running around with a toddler trying
to continue to facilitate her growth and development and who
have been completely overwhelming.”
Buttressed with state and local emergency funding, genius and
creative community ideas, and grassroots teamwork, many
Manatee County childcare providers, rose like illuminated,
protective lighthouses guiding ships on a dark and foggy night.
Braving the tempest, they boosted safety measures, offered
transparent communication, and took in older siblings of students.
responders, doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, and many
more essential professionals at work.
Like stagehands hustling behind the scenes of a complicated,
heroes. They propelled Manatee County into one of the best
performing areas of our state, with only 12 of the 171 providers
licensed with the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
closing long term due to coronavirus concerns.
And concerns ran deep. As many parents fearfully pulled their
children from childcare enrollment plummeted, and the providers
a dire need to provide free or reduced rates for childcare as the
statewide emergency sirens wailed.
Richard Corcoran. “These individuals are critical to providing
allows them to continue serving the public. The Department of
services while school campuses are closed.”
County a $398,650 grant designed to support providers through
the pandemic with health and safety supplies, infrastructure
needs, and staff professional development. At the same time, they
support our Manatee County early care programs that have stood
with us to serve children of our essential workers,” said Paul
In addition, the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County
with free childcare, thanks to the support from United Way
As emergency funding funneled down from the state, the stage
was set, and childcare providers then faced the challenge to
take action.